**It’s safe to assume that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unfamiliar with the concept of new car smell**
Carole Radziwill, a former ABC journalist and friend of Kennedy’s late wife, revealed on the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast that Kennedy’s minivan often smells of rotting animals, due to his habit of collecting roadkill and leaving it inside. Radziwill stated that Kennedy’s vehicle “always smelled of death,” a result of his peculiar affinity for animal cadavers, which she described as “weird.”
Kennedy’s controversial hobbies and changes in reputation
Radziwill expressed her difficulty reconciling the environmental advocate she once knew with Kennedy’s current persona, which she claims undermines the Kennedy family’s values. “He’s undermining everything that the Kennedy family stood for, everything on every level,” she said. She also suggested that Kennedy’s shift from environmental activism to anti-vaccine stances reflects a “business move” or “grift,” rather than genuine conviction.
Suspicions of financial motivation
Radziwill accused Kennedy of turning his anti-vax efforts into a lucrative enterprise, remarking, “Now he’s going to write ten books on pharmaceutical companies and vaccines… It’s like a business move.” Both she and Kara Swisher characterized Kennedy’s actions as part of a broader pattern of “grifters” targeting vulnerable populations for profit.
The impact on Kennedy’s legacy and public health
The resurgence of measles, which was declared eliminated in 2000, has been linked to vaccine misinformation promoted by Kennedy. Radziwill expressed concern that his recent activities threaten to tarnish the Kennedy family’s reputation and legacy, especially amid ongoing outbreaks that have sickened thousands and caused multiple deaths.
Radziwill also recollected her personal history with Kennedy, noting she knew him well before his transformation into an anti-vaccine figure. She indicated she cut ties around the time his position on vaccines became more radical, particularly after his wife’s death in 2012.
The broader implications
Critics like Radziwill believe that Kennedy’s controversial lifestyle choices, including his unique smell of his vehicle and his promotion of conspiracy theories, are emblematic of a deeper problem. “Grifters see grifters,” she summed up, pointing to the possibility that Kennedy’s actions are driven by motives other than the public good—possibly monetary gain.
As debate continues over vaccine misinformation and its consequences, Radziwill’s insights highlight how personal behaviors and public controversies intertwine, shaping perceptions of prominent figures. Her comments also reflect ongoing concerns about the legacy of the Kennedy family amid new political and social challenges.
**Meta description:**
Kennedy’s former acquaintance reveals his car smells like death due to roadkill habits and discusses his shift from environmentalism to anti-vaccine activism, risking legacy.
**Tags:**
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., roadkill, anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy family, public health, conspiracy theories, Radziwill
